Certain patients with AKIH prone to collagen loss after moderate running

SEATTLE — Lower activity scores and lower quality of life were predictive of collagen turnover and inflammation in patients with acute knee injury history after a running bout, suggesting that moderate running may not be tolerated by certain individuals, according to research presented here.

Nicole M. Cattano , MPH, ATC, and colleagues studied two groups of pretest and posttest patients, which included 11 physically active individuals between the ages of 18 years and 25 years with acute knee injury history (AKIH) and 11 healthy control participants matched for age, sex and physical characteristics. Participants with AKIH were eligible for inclusion in the study if they had been diagnosed with an ACL or meniscal injury within 4 years of enrollment and cleared to participate in physical activity within 1 year of injury.

Blood samples were collected before and after a 30-minute run on a treadmill at 2.2 m/s.

Serum biomarker concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), interleukin 1-beta, cross-linked c-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) were identified, but no biomarker correlations were observed between participants. However, significant between-group differences were seen in pain, activity scores and KOOS quality of life, according to Cattano.

Participants with AKIH had significantly lower functional KOOS than control individuals prior to the 30-minute run. Significant moderate negative correlations between pre-exercise functional scores for Tegner activity levels and CTX-II/CPII ratio biomarker changes before and after exercise were observed. Additionally, a moderate but significant negative association was observed between the KOOS quality-of-life score prior to exercise and the biomarker IL-1-beta changes following the run.

“Individuals with knee injury are still trying to participate in activities similar to what they had done before,” Cattano said.

However, encouraging all patients to return to former activity levels may not be appropriate, according to Cattano, adding that factors such as a propensity for collagen turnover and reported pain may be precursors for future activity modifications. - by Shirley Pulawski

Reference:

Cattano NM, et al. Paper #5. Presented at: Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis. April 30-May 3, 2015; Seattle.

Disclosure: Cattano reports no relevant financial disclosures.